What’s New with Mike Watterston

Here Comes The Summer, Here Comes Live Music! 

That’s what’s new and it’s about time!

The last live concert I attended was Hall & Oates / Squeeze in February 2020. That was 16 months ago!! I’m sure I’m not the only person to say, “When this Covid starts to dissipate and theater’s, gyms, restaurants & bars begin to re-open, every band in the world will get on the road”. Well my friends, it’s time to sing and it’s time to dance! In the last week or so all sorts of tickets became available for upcoming shows! I don’t mean upcoming shows like 6 months from now but a show two weeks out!!

Bruce is returning to Broadway for the first time since 2017. The tix went on sale on June 10 and the first show is June 26^th! Foo Fighters at the Garden. Tix on sale June 10. Concert is June 20^th! We’re all anxious to get back out there. Our local venues like The Sherman Theatre in East Stroudsburg, Pa., The Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, The Newton Theatre, Roy’s Hall, Bernie’s & the Stanhope House are all posting schedules! 

Most of last year’s postponed shows are rescheduled and moving forward. The mask mandate has been lifted in New Jersey. Everything is opening. Hallelujah! It’s got a Summer of Love vibe to it already. A renaissance is taking place all around us. After well over a year of seclusion, separation, take-out food and masks… it’s time to REJOICE! This is going to be an incredible summer as far as live concerts go. Everyone from Salmon Rushdie to Johnny Rivers to Lindsay Buckingham to Kinderhook will be on the road for the rest of the year.  

New shows are being announced almost daily. Theaters are preparing for their openings.  Food Trucks are rolling, restaurants, roadside hot dog trucks, bars, wineries, breweries (Czig’s & Jersey Girl) & beer gardens are open for business and small businesses are popping up also. The grass is greener. The music is louder. The food tastes better. Get out there and mingle! Meet up with old friends and make new ones at these venues.

It’s the summer of 2021 so grab your blankets, coolers & chairs because tailgate time has returned! Support Live Music! Buy tickets! Something I’m pumped for is King Crimson at The PNC Arts Center in September. The band has played NJ in the past but I don’t believe they’ve ever played there. This is going to be a treat for fans. I’m fine with lying in the grass listening to those guys under the stars! AWESOME! Maybe I’ll see you there or at The Eagles show in NYC in August or Patti Smith & Her Band’s free show at Central Park Summerstage in September. So many choices!! Thank You God! 

What’s old, But Still Plenty Good with Mike Watterston 

ERIC CLAPTON’S RAINBOW CONCERT 

This was something Pete Townshend put together with a few mutual friends to get Eric Clapton up and playing again. It was late 1972 and he hadn’t done much for the past two years besides the Concert for Bangladesh in August of ‘71… and was slipping deeper into heroin addiction. 

Once Eric and the band were onboard it was decided it would take place at London’s 2800 seat Rainbow Theatre on January 13, 1973. There would be two shows, an early show and a late show. It was aptly titled, “Eric Clapton’s Rainbow Concert” and it featured Eric Clapton & the Palpitations. 

As far the playing, it’s Outstanding! Supreme players on the tops of their game. The set list is incredible, featuring songs from Winwood/Capaldi, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Johnson & J.J. Cale. The rest of this is filled with Clapton collaborations with Harrison, Leon Russell, Bobby Whitlock as well as songs from EC’s past; Cream, Blind Faith, Derek & the Dominos and of course his solo career. Ah, almost forgot about Pete & Eric’s mutual friends… 

Ladies & Gentleman, please let me introduce The Palpitations: Eric Clapton – guitar (lead) & vocals, Pete Townshend – guitar (rhythm) & vocals, Ron Wood – guitar (rhythm and slide) & vocals, Ric Grech – bass guitar, 

Steve Winwood – keyboards & vocals, Jim Capaldi – drums & vocals, Jimmy Karstein – drums, and Rebop Kwaku Baah – percussion. WOW!! What a collection of musicians this is! 

There is nothing throwaway on this recording. The expanded Edition is a must have, especially if you are familiar with the original. All of the fade outs or edits are gone and it just rolls. Big Bonus…You get eight additional cuts on the deluxe edition! We now get to hear some chatter amongst the band, addressing the crowd, elongated intros and an occasional quick antidote from assorted band members. I always remember loving this record since it came out. It still sounds as amazing as it did when it came out on September 10, 1973. To prove that point, play “Let It Rain” LOUD. 

Pete’s plan worked, or at least got the ball rolling as far getting his friends life back and recovering from his heroin addiction. Eric Clapton was clean a year later and recorded 461 Ocean Boulevard in 1974. 

This is a must have in any collection. This “supergroup” actually sounds Super! 

*You can catch Mike Watterston’s Dog Bites on WRNJ Radio every Saturday night, 7-10 p.m.

What’s Local with Joe Hirsh

Grover Kemble is well known on the local scene for his amazing array of musical tuneage, from jazz to blues to swing to soft rock. For many years his band Grover Kemble and Za Zu Zaz was a hit not just here, but all around the state and beyond. Grover’s credits also include playing with the national act, Sha Na Na. While he still does his own things, these days he is working on a new project with the Noble Brothers. We caught up with Grover the other day on the new project and more.

Here’s what he had to say: 

Grover Kemble and The Noble Bros is a new concept band for me to be involved in. I have always enjoyed working with and teaching young musicians. The Noble Bros are Harry Jr and Bob Noble, the sons of my best childhood friend Harry Sr Noble and his wife Norma. When they were young boys I gave them guitar lessons and supported their growth and success in the popular local Quimby Mountain Band. As they have evolved more and more as stellar musicians I believed it would be fun to put a two generational band together using a large original music repertoire as the basis for material. This is certainly challenging in the present saturated era of cover and/or tribute bands but we’re moving ahead with that concept and feel the music is crisp, melodic, and funky! We’ve included their former Quimby Mt Band drummer Matt Dipaolo and my longtime keyboardist Regan Ryzuk to round out the generation equality. I really feel this band is tight and very cooking! Our first gig is at the famed Stanhope House this Sunday (3-6pm) and it should be a great sendoff start! 

We’ve already begun recording 14 original songs at the famed Mixolydian studio in Delaware Water Gap. I’m excited by the progress of these recordings, plan to release them upon completion and intend to keep this process going throughout the year. It’s my long term intention to record a very vast backlog of original songs I’ve written and played in during the many incarnations of bands I’ve been in over the years. I have songs in many different genres that will include a varied host of musicians I’ve worked with. It’s great to be able to work with so many talented area musicians that play in such varied styles.  

We are just getting started and since this band is brand new I’m waiting for the recordings to be completed before booking too many more gigs. I’d also like to have some merchandise ready when we’re gigging. We do have a concert date on Monday Aug 2nd (6:30-7:30 pm) at the Horseshoe Lake Gazebo sponsored by the Roxbury Public Library. 

Meanwhile, my regular Thursday night solo gig is at a fabulous restaurant in Rockaway called Caffe Navona. I’m there from 6-9 pm. The cuisine is top notch as the owner is European and knows how to treat his patrons with both classy food presentations and live smooth listening music. He encourages musicians to play some jazz with a relaxed swing or bossa nova and fortunately that’s right up my repertoire alley.  

Want to keep in touch with Grover?

You can check out my website, www.groverkemble.com, or Facebook Grover Kemble for updates and posts etc. I try to stay current with all that stuff . I hope some folks might show up to see ol’ Grove Sunday who’s still at it and still playing my best. I’ve had such a great run all these years and am so thankful for the friends and fans for supporting my artistic adventures over the last 50 years or so….amen! Well… I plan to keep at it with new music projects and to keep the public guessing, wondering, wandering out to see what’s next from the The Groveman.